Vehicle lamp



may 39 MEM.. c. W. ANKLAM VEHICLE LAMP Filed April 13, 1956 2sheets-sheet 1 /NVENTo/e CHU-:s W. www

ATTORNEYS 1W @y 39 ,WE- c. W. ANKLAM Y 211,65

' VEHICLE LAMP Filed April 13, 1956 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 u.4 l.' G i L F lh P mi i; g 2- 4 N" e A 5 i# J I! A Ml .u1/ 3 M L K v 1 W j 'f 1 E I J3E 1j /K' 7 s l Q l P ,f EQ i /H @L I L l l A A G F E l 4 INVENTORATTORNEYS Patented May 3, 1938 PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE LAMP Charles W.Anklam, Detroit, Mich., assigner to C. M. Hall Lamp Company, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 13, 1936, Seria-l No.74,213

7 Claims.

The invention relates to vehicle lamps and has more particular referenceto constructions designed for use on auto rail busesV and similarvehicles. It is the primary object of the invention to obtain aconstruction in which the color of light displayed may be varied inaccordance with requirements. It is a further object to obtain a simpleconstruction of color changing means which is applicable to lamp casingsof different constructions. With these and other objects in view, theinvention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings.:

Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section through a lamp towhich my improvements are applied;

Figure 2 is a cross-section thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan View' partly in horizontal section;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of `the rotatable frame;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5`5 of Figure 1; v Y

' Figure 6 is a front elevation of the rotatable frame;

Figure 7 is a sectional bottom plan View of the keeper;`

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 5 showing a modified construction.For use on buses and in particular auto rail buses, it has beencustomary to provide four lamps mounted respectively7 at the for cornersof the vehicle. These lamps have also been constructed Ato displaylights of different colors through a plurality of different windowopenings or lenses, together with provision for rotating the casing todifferent positions of adjustment. Thus, in one position a light of agiven color, such as red, may be directed rear- '410 Wardly and in otherpositions forwardly or to theside. With my improved construction, Idispense with the necessity of adjusting the lamp casing, but providefor change in the color of the light displayed through each window.

As shown A is the lamp casing, preferably formed in half sections A',A2, which have a break joint meeting A3 substantially in a horizontalplane. At the front and rear of this casing are Window openings in whichare located conical or streamlined lens members C and D, While at oneside of the casing is a window closed by the lens E. These lenses may besecured by flanges thereon which engage channel-shaped annular gaskets Flocated in grooves G in the sections A', A2.

concentric with the axis of the socket and bulb 10` and having an opensegment I for the passage of the light. Concentric with this screen andpreferably arranged within the saine is a rotatable frame J having a tophead J', longitudinally extending spaced bars J2 and a bottom ring J3.15 Within this frame and between the spaced bars are glass segments K ofdifferent colors. These segments are secured in position by a snap splitring K' which engages a groove near the lower end of each segment in theinner face thereof. The frames J are rotatively adjusted by a shaft Lwhich extends axially of the cylinder I and out- Ward, the casing Ibeing provided at its outer end with a knurled head L' by which it maybe revolved. The inner end of the shaft L has a square or polygonalportion L2 for engaging a correspondingly shaped aperture in the head JThere is also a keeper M which is slotted to form oppositely inwardlyextending tongues M having a snap engagement with the groove L3 in theshaft and bearing against the inner face of the head J'. A spring N,preferably of conical form, is arranged between the head J and the upperend of the cylinder I serving to force the frame downward, and notcheson the lower face of the head 3 L' engageable with a V-lug L4 on thecasing forms an index or latch mechanism for holding the differentcolored segments K in registration with the cut away portion I' of theshield. Thus, the construction is such that by turning the knob 40 L'.any one of the different colored segments K may be registered With theopening in the shield I so as to correspondingly color the light whichis projected through the lens.

The two portions of the casing A', A2 are se- 45 cured to each other byscrews O which are operable from the outside of the casing member A andengage threaded apertures in partitions P formed integral with thecasing member A2.V These partitions also form additional shields for 50preventing any dispersion of light from one of the bulbs to interferewith the light from another. However, these partitions are notabsolutely necessary and if desired, the shields I alone may be reliedupon to prevent light inter- 55 ference. Also, in place of forming theshields I of separate cylinders arranged within the casing, they may, ifdesired, be die cast integral with one of the sections, as shown at I2,Figure 8. The lamp sockets H, H', H2 are of any suitable constructionand are provided with electrical conductors P which pass out through anopening Q in the rear of the casing. The casing may also be mounted infixed position upon the vehicle by any suitable means (not shown).

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with a casing having a pluralityof diierently facing window openings therein, of a plurality of lightbulbs respectively operatively associated with the different windows,means interposed between said bulbs for limiting the angle of light beamtherefrom to a single window, a screen associated with each lamp bulbhaving segments of different colors, and means operable from outsidesaid casing for adjusting each of said screens to selectively interposesaid colored segments between the bulbs and the corresponding windows.

2. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with a sectional casing having aplurality of diierently facing window openings therein, of lenses forthe respective openings clamped between the sections of said casing, alamp bulb operatively associated with each window and lens, acylindrical opaque screen surrounding each bulb and having a cut awaysegment for permitting the projection of light through the correspondingwindow and lens and a translucent screen having segments of differentcolors, said screen being adjustable to selectively register the colorswith the corresponding window opening.

3. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with a casing having windows atits opposite ends and in one side, conical lenses mounted in the endwindows, a lens mounted in the side window, a series of lamp bulbsWithin said casing one for each window, shields surrounding said lampbulbs with openings therein to limit the angle of beam from each bulb toits corresponding window, a screen associated with each lamp bulb andhaving a plurality of segments of diiTerent colors, and means operablefrom` outside said casing for adjusting said screens to selectivelydisplay the colors thereof through the corresponding windows.

4. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with a casing having windowstherein at each end and one side, lenses for said windows, a series oflamp bulbs within said casing one for each window, cylindrical shieldssurrounding the respective lamp bulbs and having open segments limitingthe angle of the light beam passing therethrough to the correspondingwindow, a rotary screen surrounding each lamp bulb and having aplurality of segments of different colors, a shank for rotating saidscreen passing out through said casing, and means for rotating saidshank and for holding the same in different positions of adjustment forthe registration of the respective colored segments with the opening insaid shield.

5. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with an elongated casing formed inupper and lower sections and provided with window openings at oppositeends and in one of the sides, lenses secured between said sections inthe respective window openings, a series of lamp bulbs mounted in thelower section one for each window, shields surrounding said lamp bulbsand depending from the upper section, each shield having an openingsegment for limiting the angle of light passing therethrough to thecorresponding window, rotary screens surrounding the respective lampbulbs each formed of a plurality of segments of different colors, ashank for each rotary screen passing upward through said casing, andmeans outside said casing for rotating said shank and for holding thesame in different positions for the registration of the respectivesegments with the opening in the shield.

6. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with a casing formed in upper andlower sections and provided with window openings therein, lenses securedbetween said sections in the respective window openings, lamp bulbsmounted on the lower section one for each window, means for shieldingthe respectivey lamp bulbs to limit the angle of light therefrom to thecorresponding window, a screen surrounding each lamp bulb comprising arotary skeleton frame and a series of segments of different colorssecured therein, a shank attached to said frame and extending upward outthrough said casing, and means outside said casing for rotating saidshank and for holding the same in different positions of adjustment forregistering the respective colored segments with the correspondingwindow.

7. In a vehicle lamp, the combination with a casing formed of upper andlower sections and having a plurality of window openings, lenses securedbetween said casing sections in the respective window openings, a seriesof lamp bulbs mounted on the lower section of said casing andcorresponding to the respective windows, means for shielding each lampbulb` to limit the light therefrom to the corresponding window, and arotary screen for each lamp bulb, `each screen comprising a skeletonframe having a head at its upper end, colored segments secured withinsaid skeleton frame, a snap ring engaging grooves in the inner faces ofsaid segments to hold the same within said frame, a shank concentricwith said frame engaging the head thereof and passing outward throughthe upper section of said casing, a head for said shank outside saidcasing and having a notched shouldered engagement therewith, and aspring surrounding said shank with its opposite ends abutting againstthe head of said frame and the top of said casing to yieldably hold saidnotched head in different positions of adjustment.

CHARLES W. ANKLAM.

